Roland Waz ’03 can’t help but smile when he thinks back on his Lehigh experience. “Those were the best times. You were challenged in your coursework. The expectations were high. At the same time, there was so much camaraderie and friendship,” he says.

He affirms his passion for the Lehigh experience by supporting the Lehigh Fund every year. A top priority of GO: The Campaign for Lehigh, the Lehigh Fund ensures that students have the resources they need to thrive here, both through greater financial aid and enriching learning opportunities.

After immigrating to the Lehigh Valley from Syria in his teens and attending community college, Waz knew he wanted to study engineering. “Lehigh had a great reputation and I needed to stay close to my parents. I transferred to Lehigh as a sophomore and the process was seamless. I also benefited from a generous financial aid package,” Waz notes. Waz pursued both a bachelor’s and master’s in computer engineering degree, and did multiple internships and co-ops while studying at Lehigh. He joined Deloitte as an analyst in 2004 and 16 years later, he is still there as a partner in a consulting practice.

In 2008, Waz found himself reflecting on causes he cared about and how he could support them through philanthropy. “I could not shake the feeling that education is important and something I identify with. It plays a big role in shaping society, and in this dynamic age, higher ed is even more important than ever. I wanted to give back to education because that was a situation I obviously benefitted from.” He gave his first gift to the Lehigh Fund that year.

Remembering the impact financial aid had on his life drives him to continue giving to Lehigh. “As I said, education is a very important cause, and students should have the opportunity to attend universities without worrying about the means to afford it. The financial aid Lehigh provided me is the only reason I am where I am today,” he says.

Thank you, Roland Waz, for 12 years of loyally supporting the Lehigh Fund. You are fueling greater opportunities for future alumni like you, who will keep spreading the Lehigh legacy when they GO enter the professional world as leaders and doers.